You've probably seen some contrast ratios that look like 1,000:1 or 10,000:1. The contrast ratio is the difference between the brightest and darkest colors. The bigger the difference, the more the projector will differentiate between colors. Lower contrast ratios will result in pictures that look either too dark or washed out. The contrast ratio is denoted as "XXX:1". The higher the first number is, the better.

Finding a portable projector is one thing, but finding one that travels well is another. In addition to being portable, a travel projector has to fit into a bag and work under most conditions. The AAXA P7 is a tiny cube about 4 x 4 x 3 inches (LWH) and has a lot of input options considering its size. You can plug in via HDMI, USB, MicroSD, and mini-VGA. Any device you come across in your travels should work with this projector. Connecting to an iPad and running Affinity Designer is also an option. However, the screen size is limited by the height of the image. I got an image size of 38.5” x 27” when connected to the iPad. Akiyo Projector Body Design Sovboi and Tkiskoprojectors are other projector options that give you the same image size. They are still compact, but slightly larger than the Akiyo and Yoton Y3-PW projectors. They also have a bit brighter image. But, both the Sovboi and Tkisko projectors do not have keystone correction. This means all adjustments must be made by hand for calibration. At 2,200 lumens, it's also the brightest projector on our list, so you won't have to close the curtains when your friends come for a gaming session. You also get a high contrast ratio, meaning your view isn't washed out. You can connect up to two HDMI ports, RCA, VGA, and microSD.It's got everything you need, including a speaker built into the base and a built-in app store—connect it to a Wi-Fi network, and you're good to go. The Akiyo projector for sewing has all the connections you can want including HDMI and screen mirroring for iOS (Airplay on all Apple devices) and Android (Android casting can be used with Miracast on computers). If you plan on connecting with an HDMI cable, I recommend purchasing a longer cable since the one it comes with is very short. The projector comes with a 3,400 mAh battery built-in, which will barely get you through a 2-hour movie. You can also charge your phone off the battery, leaving even less power for the projector. Still, we like to see that kind of versatility in devices. You will get 30,000 hours of LED life from the bulb, and the picture quality is similar to an HDTV. This projector can hit the road with you and plug into anything.

The Akiyo projector does make a great projector for sewing if you are able to work in a dark environment. This may mean putting curtains on windows or cutting fabric when it is dark outside. How bright your picture is will determine how dark your environment has to be to watch. Brightness is measured in lumens or ANSI lumens. A brighter picture is more visible even when there's a lot of ambient light. Generally speaking, a higher brightness is better. The brightness and contrast are areas where this projector really didn’t impress me, but what can you expect from a budget projector? During the review, I tested the Akiyo projector with about 73.5 Lux lumens compared to about 129 lux lumens for the Vivimage Explore 2 (another leading mini projector for sewing). High Lumens 3 LCD Image & Hi-Fi Stereo Sound】Adopted the latest 3LCD color calibration technology and Mstar advanced color. 40''-300'' large screen with high lumens. The 1080P WiFi projector is perfect for video viewing, TV series watching, and photo displaying. Built-in 3W dual stereo speakers with an SRS sound system that provides a great Hi-Fi stereo sound without external speakers.Using a projector for movies and presentations is nice, but cranking up a game onto a 300" projected screen is next-level. To do so, you need low input lag, and that's just what this projector delivers. If your projector takes too long to process the commands you give it, you will not do well in your game. The BenQ HT2050A has low latency with gamers in mind.